I saw Zeke Bratkowski at a sportscard show in Milwaukee today.
For those that don't remember him, he was Bart Starr's backup back in the 1960's. And he was one HECK of a good backup! When Starr got hurt, Bratkowski would step in and the Packers wouldn't miss a beat.
I told him how much i enjoyed watching him play. And man, what a nice guy! I asked if i could get my picture taken with him, but the woman in charge said the guy running the show didn't allow that. Zeke looked at her like "are you nuts?" And HE asked her to ask the show guy if he could do it. Of course the guy running the show said "Sure Zeke! Whatever you want!"
So i had the lady take it. I HOPE it turns out. My camera is tricky, and i TRIED to set it up for her. If it doesn't turn out, i'll be bummed.

And, on a sad note, Fuzzy Thurston was there. The partner of the guy running the show told me Fuzzy isn't doing at all well. He told me he's in the onset of Alzheimer's.
I got Fuzzy to sign the pic of me and him from Fan Fest last year. Fuzzy was nice, but not his normal "jovial" self. It made me sad to see him looking bad.

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I wouldn't feel too bad about Fuzzy, Cheesey. The man has lived a full life and lived it like there is no tomorrow. I had a good friend who used to clean his bar. She'd show up in the morning for her shift and he'd still be there from the night before, just waking up and starting to get ready for that night. She loved him and said he was a prince of a man. He has faced so much adversity and has done so with a smile. I'm sure he'd hate it if anyone was feeling sorry for him!

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Awesome that you met Zeke. I saw some stuff about him and, like you said, he was pretty great when replacing Bart Starr. He carried the team in that Baltimore game, if I'm correct. Must've been great.

I don't know a lot about Fuzzy, but if he was a guard in the Packers sweep area, he must've been quite the player. I don't know anything about him as a person, but it's always sad to hear something like that.

Dingus, i do and i don't feel sorry for him. He has faced the physical problems like a champ. But when it's your mind that goes, it destroys a person. They arn't even "who they were" when that happens.
The few times i have been with Fuzzy, he has been just like you said. Outgoing, and just loves the attention and the fans.
I heard a story today from the guy that runs the card show. He said, the last time he had Fuzzy signing, he went up to his house to drive Fuzzy, so he wouldn't have to drive. He said that on the way, Fuzzy made him stop at a bar! But thats Fuzzy! He loves to party!


Rock, this was the first time i ever got to meet Zeke. And he was as outgoing and friendly as can be! I always hoped i would get to meet him, and it was just by luck that i saw the ad in the paper a few days ago about the card show.

I actually did quite a bit today. I stopped at the cemetary where my family is buried, and visited my Mom and Dad's grave, and my Brother's grave, my Grandparent's grave (my Mom's folks) and 2 of my Aunt's and Uncle's.
It sucks that i have to go to a cemetary for a "family reunion".
Then i went to another cemetary to visit my Grandma's grave. She died before i was born. Then i drove past the house my Dad built, where i grew up. Then, for the heck of it, i went to the cemetary where Reggie Lisowski is buried. For those that don't recognize the name, it's the REAL name for the pro wrestler named "The Crusher", whose cousin was his wresting partner, Dick "The Brusier" Afflis, who was a guard for the Packers in 1951-1954. So i had a full day.

I also did laundry and made spaghetti with venison for supper.

(I'll make someone a good wife some day!!!)LOLOL!!!

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OK, now you're just making me feel bad, I've been sleeping for the last 2 hours and went to a used book store before that! Nothing else, and it's the first sunny day we've had all week!

Definitely agree about the alzheimers, that is a truly terrifying way to go out.

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Good old Zeke.
When he had to come in for Bart, you never felt like the Packers would miss a beat, and for the most part they didn't.
Strangely enough, when Zeke left the Packers he went to the Bears, but he will always be a Packer in my mind.

Zeke, old #12. Known more for his All American college football career and his coaching than has an NFL player.

Backing up Bart Starr isn't too bad.

Too bad he never got to be a head coach in the NFL. He certainly could have been one at the college level if he wanted.

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Yup! He did!
Didn't he play for the Rams too? (I'm not certain on that)
But thats what i told him today. I told him how i never was afraid when he came in for Bart, cause i KNEW he would keep us in the game!
He really smiled when i said that!

Dingus..........don't feel bad my friend! Believe me, there are days when i can't even get out of bed. With my recent heart surgery, it's been even worse with the bilateral Meniere's disease, the asthma, the diabetes, the hypertension, the arthritus of the spine, the familial tremors..........I'm probably forgetting a few..........LOLOLOL!!!
It's funny. There are some days i can get alot done, others you'd think i was at death's door. Thats what frustrates my wife so much. She says "People only see you when you are having a good day! They arn't there when your too sick to get out of bed!" But she KNOWS i try, no matter how I'm doing!
Oh yeah.......just remembered.......migraine headaches!LOLOL!!! :thumbleft:

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that's so cool alan - i'm jealous as can be but happy you got to meet him. sorry to hear about fuzzy - alzheimers is no way to go. 😞

Thanks Illy!!!

Another neat thing was, when i was talking with Zeke, we got to talking about open heart surgery. We ended up coparing what he went through to mine. He told me that to get his leg vein, they opened up his leg from groin to ankle. I told him ho i had 2 cuts, and they yanked the vein out.
It was kind of fun disscussing it all with him. It was like talking to an old friend.

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